The 10 things to do in Palermo

What to do in Palermo, capital of Sicily and one of the oldest cities in the European continent?

Visiting Palermo is confronting each corner of streets with the contrasts of the city. De sumptuous palaces surrounded by ruined monuments, large sunny places lead to a maze of narrow and dark streets.

Palermo is rich in a complex history dating back to Antiquity, the city having been founded around the 8th century before our era and having undergone many phases of occupation: Arabic, Norman, Byzantine, French, Spanish.

Come and discover the many places of interest in Palermo, a city with a very tempered character.

1. The Palace of Normans and the Palatine Chapel

The Palais des Normands is like Palermo, a great mix of influences. A tower fortress punic, Roman, residence of Muslim emirs and palaces of Norman kings, it currently houses the parliament of the region. A must-see visit that contains a real jewel: the Palatine chapel. Recovering medieval gilding and mosaics, it is a breathtaking show.

2. The Cathedral of Palermo

The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta is a medieval monument dating from the 12th century, a Romanesque church with strong Arab influence. It was built at the location of what was then the mosque of the Arab city and before it a Roman temple. You can admire the very worked exterior facades that contrast with the very sober baroque style inside.

3. The Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele, the largest in Italy

The Teatro Massimo is the largest opera in Italy and the third largest in Europe with more than 1600 seats and the possibility of hosting on stage up to 700 players! Built in the 19th century it was restored and reopened in 1997 after a period of abandonment. Only the Paris Opera Garnier and the Vienna Staatsoper offer larger rooms than this one. Take a look at it, you will not be disappointed.

4. Palermo Palaces

The number of churches in Palermo is equal to that of the palaces. You will find it at every corner of the street and it is often possible to enter their courses to better appreciate them. Walk along the Via Maqueda, a historical axis of the city where you will find the Palazzo Grassellini, Comitini or Mazzarino on your road. The cinema enthusiasts will not fail to visit the Palazzo Gangi, an 18th century palace where the famous dance scene of the Guépard de Visconti was shot. I mean, go to the house. , a building of the 12th century Arab style commissioned by Norman King William I.

5. The most beautiful places in the city

We can’t visit Palermo without lingering on its places. The most famous of all, rather a crossroads, is the Quattro Canti, the historic centre of the city flanked by four identical baroque monuments that house the statues of the four Spanish governors of Palermo. Piazza Bellini and its church of the Martorana, probably the most beautiful of the city, cannot miss your list. We also recommend Piazza Pretoria and its 16th century monumental fountain.

6. Capuchin Catacombs

From far the strangest attraction of Palermo, but also one of the most popular in the city, the monastery of Capuchins is especially famous for its Catacombs. These underground passages were cut into the volcanic rock after 1599 and served as a burial site until 1881. Inside, you will be welcomed by about 8,000 mummified bodies, arranged by sex and status in the corridors or suspended from the walls. The mummies wear well-preserved clothing, as families regularly "offer" new clothes to the deceased. A particular mummy attracts visitors, that of a small 2-year-old girl, Rosalia Lombardo , whose conservation level is exceptional.

7. Street-food and Palermo markets

The Palermo street markets are an opportunity to immerse yourself in the flavors of Sicily, and in the heart of Palermo life. Sicilian cuisine is rich, and you will find all the elements that compose it on market stalls installed in narrow streets between ruined buildings, as in the markets of Ballaro and Vucciria. street-food is very present in Palermo : go looking for Rocky, a local character, and try his Pane con la Milza (based on calf and spleen lung), taste the doughs with urchins and fried beans fried ( panel ) watered with one spremuta d’arancia (orange juice).

Opening hours for La Vucciria : Lun-Ven 10h-13h, Via Coltellieri 46, 90133, Palermo Opening hours for Ballaro: 7.30am to 8pm, closing at 1pm on Sunday, Via Ballaro, 14, 90134 Palermo

8. A boat ride

To discover at best Palermo, another must-see is for you: the boat ride! Indeed if you want to explore the region of the three seas in Sicily, nothing better than the boat rental in Palermo .

The Sicily, the island with three seas, runs numerous cruise routes. In one or two days you will have plenty of time to explore some of these pepits. For short cruises from Palermo, favor the Tyrrhenian Sea. You can then go along Wind turbine islands and enjoy a sublime view on Vulcano ...

9. See also in Palermo

One can hardly stop visiting Palermo; The surprises are at every corner of the street! Here are a few more steps to continue your journey:

• The Vucciria market
• The Albergheria district
• Regional Archaeological Museum Antonio Salinas

10. Things to do in the vicinity of Palermo

Now that you know what to do in Palermo do not hesitate to piocher in this list to discover the surroundings. Sicily is a region that deserves to be addressed!

• Monreale and its cathedral
• The beach of Mondello to cool off
• The city of Cefalùbetween relaxation and culture
• valley of the temples of Agrigento, 2 hours train from Palermo

How do I get to Palermo?

Falcone-Borsellino Airport is best served to get to Palermo by plane. The price of Palermo airline tickets varies greatly: tickets are cheaper from November to March and more expensive from June to September. To find cheap flights to Palermo, you can search our partner's website Ulysses .

Palermo (and Sicily) is also accessible by ferry from France. From Toulon or Nice , departures are frequent. If you are in Italy and wish to extend your stay in Sicily, you can opt for the ferry to Palermo, from Naples For example.

Where to stay in Palermo?

We recommend you find a hotel or an apartment in the center of Palermo , mainly in the streets close to Via Roma and Via Maqueda. The ideal if you want to visit the surroundings and the rest of Sicily is to stay not far from the Palermo Central Station. You can find a cheap hotel in Palermo by searching for this Compare hotels .